Nevertheless we, who are so new, must
not allow ourselves to become stepping-stones. It is perfectly right.

"That is why I said this period of mourning is Laura's protection. She
will have time to know what friendships are best, and an opportunity to
avoid undesirable ones. You have been away so long, David, where the
class lines are not so rigidly drawn, that you forget--or never knew. It
is my duty, without any foolish sentiment, to guard Laura and see to it
that her coming out is what it should be. For one thing, she is so very
plain. If she were a beauty, it would help, but her plainness must be
compensated for in other ways. She will have a large settlement, Mr.
Stretton thinks, if your uncle's interests are not too much jeopardized
in South Africa by this terrible war. That is something you will have to
look into before you take your seat in the House."

"Oh, mother, mother! I can't--"

"My dear boy, your brother died for his country, and can you not give a
little of your life for it? I can rely on you to be practically
inclined, now that you are placed at the head of such a family? I'm glad
now you never cared for Muriel Hunt. She could never have filled the
position as her ladyship, your uncle's wife, did. She was Lady Thomasia
Harcourt Glendyne of Wales. Beside her, Muriel would appear silly. It is
most fortunate you have no such entanglement now."

"Mother, mother! I am astounded! I never dreamed my dear, beautiful
mother could descend to such worldliness. You are changed, mother. There
is something fundamentally wrong in all this."

She looked up at him, aghast at his vehemence.

"My son, my son! Let us have only love between us--only love. I am not
changed. I was content as I was, nor ever tried to enter a sphere above
me. Now that this comes to me--forced on me by right of English law--I
take it thankfully, with all it brings. I will fill the place as it
should be filled, and Laura shall do the same, and you also, my son. As
for Muriel Hunt, I will make concessions if--if your happiness demands
it."

David groaned inwardly. "No, mother, no. It goes deeper than Muriel; it
goes deeper." They had both risen. She placed her hands on his shoulders
and looked levelly in his eyes, and her own lightened, through tears
held bravely back.

"It may well go deeper than Muriel, and still not go very deep."

"And yet the time was when Muriel Hunt was thought quite deep enough,"
he said sadly, still looking in